1966 US Army Vietnam War ARMOR ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMa. Orient on the Location or Movement ofthe Intelligence Objectives. Units performingoperations. In the case of enemy contact, thefollowing actions, known as Actions on Conreconnaissancemust maneuver according to tact, are taken:the location or movement of the intelligence ob- (1) Deploy and report. Units move immejectiverather than the location or movement ofdiately to positions from which theyfriendly forces. The objective may be enemycan fire, observe, or be employedtroops, a terrain feature, or a locality. To effec-against the enemy. The commandertively perform the operation, commanders ofimmediately reports the enemy conunitsconducting reconnaissance must be al- tact to higher headquarters in aslowed maximum freedom of action.much detail as is available.b. Report all Information Accurately. Re- (2) Reconnoiter. The enemy's location,connaissance is conducted to obtain informa-strength, composition, and dispositiontion to be used in the production of combat in-are determined, with a special efforttelligence. To be of value to the commander,being made to determine the flanks ofthis information must be received in time to behis position. When terrain permits,of use and must be accurate in answering thethe enemy position is reconnoiteredquestions what (including how many), when,by mounted elements. Reconnaissancewhere, and doing what. All members of unitsby fire may be employed when time isconducting reconnaissance missions must re-critical. If terrain restricts vehicularport all positive or negative information rapid-movement, the enemy position is reclyand accurately to the next higher head-onnoitered with dismounted patrols.quarters. When considered in conjunction withPatrols, whether mounted or disinformationfrom other sources, informationmounted, are supported by other elethatappears unimportant to one level of com-ments of the unit.mand may be extremely valuable to the nexthigher commander. The development and use (3) Chooseonnoiteringa coursethe of enemy action. position After rec-toof brief reconnaissance spot report forms (appgain as much information as he can,V) will facilitate the rapid transmission of es- the commander must choose coursesential information. A unit performing recontheof actioncommanderappropriatemust chooseto thea courseimmenaissancehas not fully accomplished its mis-diate situation as well as to the acsionuntil it has reported all informationgathered to the next higher headquarters.complishment of the assigned msion. A decision to attack, bypass, orc. Avoid Decisive Engagement. Units per- contain the enemy must be made asforming reconnaissance obtain information byquickly as the reconnaissance willstealth whenever possible, but fight whenpermit.necessary to gain the desired information. The (4) Report The commander then reportsreconnaissance mission must not be jeopardizedto his higher headquarters. This rebycombat with the enemy when combat is notport includes the additional enemy inessentialto obtain the information desired.formation gained by the reconnaisd.Maintain Contact with the Enemy. In the sance and the decision as to whatperformance of a reconnaissance mission to ob-course of action the commander planstain information of an enemy force, contactto follow.with the enemy is gained as soon as possible.Once contact has been made, it is maintainedand is not voluntarily broken without authori-72. Types of Reconnaissance MissionsThere are three types of reconnaissance mistyfrom higher headquarters. Contact can bemaintained by ground or air observation.sions: route, zone, and area. The type to be em-ployed is determined after considering the ine.Develop the Situation. When contact with formation desired, where the information is tothe enemy is made, or an obstacle is encoun- be sought, the known enemy situation, terrain,tered, the situation must be developed quickly size of the reconnaissance force, and the timeand a decision made regarding subsequent available for obtaining the information. FM45